How to prevent Windows 10 from installing the Creators Update

Mauro Huculak

On Windows 10, updates keep your PC secure and up to date with improvements, security patches, and new features, but when installing big feature updates (e.g., Creators Update), as soon as they release could mean more problems.

The main issue is that updates on Windows 10 are mandatory, and sometimes during the initial major rollout, such as the Windows 10 Creators Update, there may still be unknown bugs, and some drivers and features may not work correctly, which is one of the reason why you may want to defer installing a new version of Windows 10 in the early days. Microsoft understands this concern and that’s why it provides a number of ways to control updates on your PC.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to prevent Windows 10 from downloading and installing the Creators Update on your PC using the Settings app, Local Group Policy editor, and using metered connection for Windows 10 Home.

How to defer Windows 10 Creators Update using Settings

Using the Settings app is possible to pause feature updates, such as the Windows 10 Creators Update, for up to 60 days. This option is only available for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise and Education.

To defer feature updates using the Settings app, do the following:

Open Settings.

Click on Update & security.

Click on Windows Update.

Click the Advanced options link.

Check the Defer upgrades option to complete the task.

Windows Update, Defer feature updates option

How to defer Windows 10 Creators Update using Group Policy

If you’re looking to postpone the Windows 10 Creators Update for a longer period, it’s possible to delay updates for up to 180 days.

Microsoft provides two branch readiness level for receiving feature updates. The “Current Branch” gets updates when Microsoft considers that the features are ready. Then the “Current Branch for Business” gets feature updates when Microsoft confirms it’s ready for enterprise deployment. If you want to delay updates as long as possible, you should be selecting the Windows Update for Business (WUB) option, in addition to delaying updates for 180 days.

This option is also only available for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education, and you can only configure it using the Local Group Policy editor.

To defer feature updates using the Local Group Policy editor, do the following:

Use the Windows Key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.

Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Under “Options”, select the Current Branch for Business option from the drop-down menu.

Choose for how long you want to defer upgrades. You can defer receiving feature updates up to 180 days.

Check the Pause feature updates option to temporary pause major release from downloading and installing on your PC (this is the same as using the Defer feature updates option in Settings). The pause will remain in effect for 60 days or until you clear the check box.

Select when Feature Updates are received policy

Click Apply.

Click OK to complete the task.

How to defer Creators Update on Windows 10 Home

If you’re running Windows 10 Home, as soon as the Creators Update, or another feature update, rolls out it’ll download and install automatically. However, you can set your Wi-Fi connection as metered, which limits how the OS access uses an internet connection, and when enabled, updates won’t download automatically to your PC.

To defer feature updates on Windows 10 Home, do the following:

Open Settings.

Click Wi-Fi.

Click the Wi-Fi network you’re connected link.

Settings, Wi-Fi options

Under “Metered connection”, make sure to turn on the Set as metered connection toggle switch.

This method will block all kinds of updates, meaning that your computer will be unprotected until you disable the metered connection.

Wrapping things up

While this guide goes through the steps to prevent installing the Windows 10 Creators Update from installing automatically, it’s not meant to discourage your installing updates. On Windows 10, and on any operating system, updates are important to keep your device up to date and secure.

This guide is only meant to postpone the update to a later date, until you know for sure that bugs and issues that may appear during the early days have been fixed to reduce issues on your PC, laptop, or tablet.

Are you installing the Windows 10 Creators Update as soon as it comes out or you’re planning to wait? Tell us in the comments below.